When Guru is God, and Guru is a Woman.

Abstract

This project began with a question: How do American followers of Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) construct meaning from following a Hindu female religious leader, in a traditionally male-dominated role? We conducted an extensive review of the scholarship on female religious leaders and Hinduism in America, as well as materials by and about Amma and her Mission, specifically focusing on issues of gender.